Rachel Brem, PhD
Principal Investigator
Associate professor in PMB at UC Berkeley
PhD. Biophysics, UC San Francisco, 2000
BS Biochemistry, Brown University, 1994
Abel Duarte
Graduate Student
Bio under construction. In the meantime, please enjoy this picture of a gecko.
Melissa Sui
Lab technician
msui@berkeley.edu
BS Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley, 2021
I joined the lab right after my graduation in 2021, and I’m currently studying the genetic basis of cellular senescence phenotypes through the natural variations of these traits in mouse species. I’m interested in evolution, infectious diseases, and cellular pathways in response to stressors. In my free time, I like to volunteer for teaching organizations, play with my dogs, and try out new restaurants.
Kaylee Christensen
Lab technician
kayleeec@berkeley.edu
I’m a lab technician at UC Berkeley studying microbiology and marine science. I’m interested broadly in evolution and extremophile studies, and am part of Abel Duarte’s team currently studying phenotypic variation in the yeast Kluyveromyces. Outside of lab, I enjoy collecting houseplants, playing music, and brewing kombucha.
Jun Ting Johnson Wang
Graduate student johnsonwang@berkeley.edu
I joined the lab in 2022. My study focuses on genetic interactions between mitochondrial and nuclear genome in terms of thermotolerance in different Saccharomyces species/hybrids. I am an evolutionay enthusiast and a workaholic. Let’s discuss science and experiments whenever you want! Besides research, I love hanging out with freinds, hiking, playing pool, classical music, cats, etc.
Olusola Ogunyewo
Postdoctoral fellow
shollyt22@berkeley.edu
I joined the Plant and Microbial Biology Department in 2022 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. My research focuses on fungal genomics and metabolism wherein I am trying to employ some advanced molecular tools to understand some genes conferring thermotolerance trait to a highly thermophilic fungus. The over-arching goal of my project is to understand the cellular, molecular, and evolutionary mechanisms of thermophily in the fungus M. thermophila which is highly used as host for cellulolytic enzymes in biorefineries. Outside of lab, I enjoy hanging out with friends, listening to music and watching movies.
Jasmine Leah Naomi Goodman
Undergrade researcher
jasminegoodman@berkeley.edu
I’m currently an undergraduate at UC Berkeley studying molecular environmental biology. I’m working on the Kluyveromyces project, focusing on understanding the genetic basis of stress tolerance. In my free time, I like going rock climbing, making pottery, knitting, and playing NYT mini games!
Sasha Ines Padilla
Undergeade researcher
padilla.s@berkeley.edu
I’m an undergrad in the lab, studying microbial biology. I’m working on the Kluyveromyces project, and assisting in identifying genes that confer survival against chemical and heat stress. Outside of lab, I like to listen to music, go to concerts, and spend a lot of time outdoors.
Edyta Szewczyk
Assistant Specialist
edyta@berkeley.edu
I finished my PhD in University of Melbourne in 2003 and joined the Brem lab in2024 to investigate the genetic mechanisms of evolution using various
fungi as a model. My main focus is on studying Coccidioides sp. in
collaboration with laboratories at UCSF and Northern Arizona
University, and on developing strain engineering techniques for this
and other genetically recalcitrant fungi. Stay tuned for more fungal
projects starting in the near future! Outside of lab, I enjoy travel
and world’s cuisines, botany and foraging for edible plants and
mushrooms, watching movies and night skies.
Brem Lab @ Berkeley Alumni
Catherine Rha, undergrad researcher
Maceo Powers, undergrad researcher
Ping Ling Priscilla Ng, undergrad researcher
Noah Simon, PhD
Kyu Chul Chang, MD
Kristina Clemens, PhD
Arjun Sasikumar, PhD
Chris Nelson, PhD
Zhenzhen Ma, undergrad researcher
Judith Edwards, undergrad researcher
Taekyu Kang, PhD
Claire Dubin
Tyler Hilsabeck, PhD, MS
Melanie Abrams, PhD
Faisal Al-Zaben
Julie Chuong
Charles Denby, PhD
Anna Flury
Rylee Hackley
Tiffany Hsu, PhD
Joo Hyun Im, PhD
Hana Lee, PhD
Hilary Martin, PhD
Matthew Metzger, MS
Yulia Mostovoy, PhD
Jeremy Roop, PhD
Alex Thiemicke
Jessie Uehling, PhD
Carly Weiss, PhD
Oh Kyu Yoon, PhD